Container



Oct. 22, 1940. R. D. BENNETT Y 2,218,570

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Filed March l5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l wwmWW/Wm M /9 WMJ 7% Oct. 22,1940. R. n. BENNETT CONTAINER Filed Maron 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Oct. 22, 1940 PATENT oI-FICE CONTAINER Racy D. Bennett,Detroit, Mich., assignor to The American Paper Bottle Company, Toledo,Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application March l5, 1938, Serial No. 196,068

7 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to containers and primarily to paper containersof the self-supporting type such for instance as is disclosed in PatentNo. 2,047,891, granted July 14, 1936, to Henry T. Scott.

The container which comprises the subject matter of the patent justabove referred to is formed by cutting from a sheet of relatively stiffgood quality paper a single blank, the blank being divided by scorings,preferably made at the time of cutting, into a plurality of panels ofdifferent shapes and sizes. In subsequent operations the several panelsof the blank are folded relatively to each other about the intermediatescorings, which act as hinges, into the shape of a tubular containeropen at one end, a suitable adhesive substance beingapplied to certainof the panels to cause such panels to berigi/dly attached lto otherswhich they in part overlap. The tubular container thus formed, with itsbottom closed and to open, is then preferably coated, both inside andout, with a leakprooiing composition such as paraffin or a paraffincontaining or analogous substance, this coating being-=in tended toprevent the penetration of moisture into the fibrous walls of thecontainer, this coating being particularly important when the containeris to be subsequently employed in the packaging, transportation, anddispensing of liquids.

After having been thus coated with the liquid proofing substance .thecontainer may be charged With a commodity to be dispensed, such forinstance as milk. Thereafter the container is closed.' sealed andpreferably stapled, the walls at its open end comprising panels of suchshape that they may be relatively folded to form an end closure, theoutstanding features of which comprise a multi-ply rib extendingtransversely of the axis of the container body and downwardly andoutwardly sloping panels which extend from this central rib to the uppermargins of opposed sides of the body portion of -the container. Ascontainers of this nature are frequently subjected to rough handling intransportation and delivery to consumers, it is preferred thataccidental opening be safeguarded against by passing a staple throughthe multi-ply rib, or by stitching the several plies of this ribtogether. Opening of the -container is normally effected by the removalof the staple or stitches and unfolding of its foldable closure or endportion. After this has been done, its contents may be wholly dischargedor, if desired, discharged in partonly. If the contents are dischargedin part only the several panels comprising the foldable top or closureportion are manually restored to the positions previously occupied bythem although the staple is not usually reinserted. Containers of thetype just described 'have been made and used in llarge quantities withvery satisfactory results.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a paper container ofthe self-supporting type having certain novel and improved lfeatures ofconstruction whereby it is rendered possible that the contents thereofbe discharged, either wholly or partially, without requiring unfoldingof the end closure of the container. While it is contemplated that theend closure may be unfolded if desired, in the manner heretoforesuggested, nevertheless an additional means for more readily eifectingdischarge of the contents of the container may be provided so that thepurchaser of a commodity packaged in such container may, if he sodesires, remove the .commodity quickly and easily.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a modified orimproved container of thel type disclosed in Patent No. 2,047,891,previously 'referred to, but providing in one wall of such a container adischarge opening which may be opened and closed at will quickly and bya simple movement of the hands of the holder. It is a primaryconsideration of course that any container designed and intended for usein the packaging of liquids must be liquid-tight at all times prior touse, and the invention contemplates a closure for the discharge openingthus provided which is of such character, and is so positioned,

that there is no more tendency for liquid to escape prematurely from thepouringopening than at any other point in the container wall. It islikewise a. primary consideration in the dispensing ofliquid foodproducts such for instance as milk, that the pouring lip of thecontainer, over which the liquid passes when being discharged therefrom,shall at no time become contaminated. It is especially important tosafeguard this pouring lip, or the edges of the pouring aperture, in anycase where the contents of the container are only partially removed andthe remainder is left therein for'future use. In a container constructedin accordance with the present invention these objections are realizedand the cost of applying the improvements is practically negligible.

As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the invention isapplicable to paper containers of various types and susceptible ofdifferent uses. In the accompanying drawings two forms of the inventionare disclosed, and which will be hereinafter described in detail, but itwill be understood that these forms are set forth by way of exampleonly.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a scored paper blank the various panels ofwhich may in subsequent operations be relatively folded to form thecontainer shown in certain of the remaining figures;

Figure 2 shows in plan a portion of the reverse side of the blank shownin Figure 1; i

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the completed container, the pouringopeningbeing closed;

Figure 4 is a similar view but showing the discharge or pouring openinguncovered;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing portion of the means for cuttingthe pouring opening in the blank shown lin Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the parts in different positions; l

Figure 7 is a transverse section on line 1-1 of Figure 1 but on a largerscale;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a somewhat modifiedtype of blank;

Figure 9 is a view showing in plan portion of a blank from which certaincontainer parts may be cut;

Figure 10 is a view, in plan, of portion of the blank shown in Figure 8,the reverse side of the blank being illustrated;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of thecompleted container; and

Figure 12 is a similar view but showing the pouring opening uncovered.

Referring first to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4inclusive. The blank I0 is of relatively stiff paper and divided intopanels by the scorings indicated in dotted lines. The blank shown issubstantially the same as that i1- o lustre-.ted in Patent No. 2,047,891and its details need not be herein described. By folding the panels ofthe blank relatively to each other, and applying an adhesive to certainof them, a tubular container with closed bottom and open'top will firstbe fabricated. It may be mentioned that the several bottom panels areindicated at II, I2, I3 and I4, the side wall panels at I5, I6, I'I andI8, those panels which when relatively folded and secured in nalposition comprise the closure of the container lying above the side wallpanels I5, I6, I'I and I8, it being unnecessary to refer to these endclosure panels other than to point out that two of them, i. e., panelsI9 and 20 form the inclined uppermost panels of the completed container,as shown in Figure 3, which join the rib 2| extending transversely oftlie container. It is oneV of these inclined panels, for instance thepanel I9, in which the pouring opening is formed, this opening beingpreferably formed by cutting the panel at the time that the score linesare being formed, along the line 22, shown in Figure 1, this cut beingsubstantially U-shaped and completely severing the portion 23 of theblank from the remainder thereof save along its upper edge, where it maybe merely scored, the portion 23 after the cutting operation has beencompleted, therefore comprising what may be designated a closure tab forthe pouring opening although it is not solely relied upon to seal thisopening.

After the blank I0 has been thus scored and cut to provide the variouspanels and foldable tab 23,A there is afiixed to one face of panel I9 arectangular paper sheet 25, this paper sheet extending downwardly overpanel I5. It is secured in position by the application of a paste ormucilage, mainlyto the panel I9, the sheet 25 being disposed directlyover the tab 23, the dimensions of the cover sheet being such that itsmargins overlap the margins of the pouring or discharge aperture 22,both horizontally and vertically. 'I'he paste or mucilage used to securethe cover 5 sheet 25 in the position shown in Figure 2 (and in chainlines in Figure 1) is not applied over the entire area of the sheet butonly over certain portions, the` glue or paste covered areas beingindicated by the shading in Figure 2 of the drawings. Thus the entirearea of the surface of the tab 23 is secured to the sheet 25 by theadhesive used but sheet 25 is only attached to the body of panel I9 ofthe blank by means of the relatively narrow bands or strips of glue orpaste indicated 15 at 26 and by the transversely extending band or stripof adhesive above the tab 23 and which is indicated at 21. A small spotof glue or paste 28 is preferably employed to attach the lower edge ofthe cover sheet 25 to the upper margin of the 20 side wall panel I6.

After the cover sheet 25 has been thus applied, the blank may besubmitted to folding, glueing, coating, charging, sealing and staplingoperations and in actual practice these operations are 25 carried outrapidly by means of automatically acting devices closely associated sothat these devices, which together comprise a complete automaticcontainer fabricating and filling machine, deliver as a finished productthe container shown in Figure 3, which has been coated both inside andout with a suitable leakproofing composition, such as a paraiiincontaining or like composition andis charged with the commodity to bedispensed, for instance milk. i

During the coating operation coated material is of course deposited overthe entire outer surface of the cover sheet 25 and likewise deposited inthe cut 22 defining the margins of the tab 23 so that the penetration ofliquid through the cut into 40 contact with the cover sheet is prevetnedby the coating composition, and likewise the edges of the cover sheetare additionally maintained in tight contact with the surface of panelsI6 and I9 by of the'container to prevent escape of liquid is thereforein nowise lessened by reason of the presence of the cut 22, and thecontainer may be transported long distances without danger of failure.

When it is passed into the hands of a consumer, the consumer may ofcourse obtain access to its contents by unfolding the panels whichtogether comprise the rib 2|. He may, however, obtain more ready accessto the interior of the container by lifting the cover sheet, applyingfor instance a lifting force tor this sheet at its lower edge, or at oneof its lower corners, and lifting or pulling the body of the cover sheetupwardly until it occupies the position in which it is shown inv Figure4. In this operation the tab 23 is lifted with the cover sheet due tothe fact that its entire surface is secured thereto by the adhesive, butthe cover sheet can be readily torn loose from the top panel I9, theadhesive bands 26 being relatively narrow and offering but littleresistance to the upward movement of the sheet. As `is clearly shown inFigure 4, the operation just described effects the uncovering of thedischarge opening, indicated at D and by tilting the container the 70contents thereof, or any portion of the contents, may be removed throughthis discharge opening. When the container is charged with the liquid,it will be found that the liquid will pour cleanly from the opening andthe ow can be immediately terminated at any time by righting thecontainer. If the contents are only partially discharged, the coversheet, with its attached tab 23, may be folded downwardly into itsoriginal position as shown in Figure 3 J,and lthe container stored awayfor future use. It will be perceived that the edge of the dischargeopening, over which the contents of the container pass, is effectivelysealed against contamination at all times save when the cover sheet islifted.

It is advantageous to undercut the edges of the tab` 23 in the originalcutting of this tab, so that the edge surfaces of the tab taperoutwardly ltoward the cover sheet 25, as indicated in Figure 7 to arather exaggerated extent. When the cover sheet is lifted the tab 23 maybe readily pulled through the aperture due to the flexibility of the taband when the cover sheet and tab are returned to the position shown inFigure 3 pressure may be applied to force the tab back into thedischarge'opening D, its edges snapping past the edges of the dischargeopening and thereafter being locked in position as shown in Figure 'Iagainst accidental displacement.

This desired result may be obtained by effecting the formation of thecut 22 by the means diagrammatically illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

In this gurecutting blades for the substantially parallel portions ofthe cut 22 are indicated at 30 and 3l, these blades being bevelled andthe bevelled faces being on the inner sides of the 'blades The bladesare of course mounted in a suitable cutting blade holder, portion ofwhich is indicated at 32 and operate toward a table or platen indicatedat 33, upon which the paper blank I0 lies. When the blade holder 32 andthe blades mounted thereon descend, the cutting edges of the blades willtend to creep outwardly or away from each other, due to the way in whichthe blades are bevelled, the edges of the tab thus formed beingtherefore inclined in the manner indicated in Figure 7 after the cuttingoperation has been completed. The cutting blades 30 and 3l are to aslight degree resilient and it is found that there is a sufficientmovement of the cutting edges of these blades to effect the desiredresult, even when the blades are quite short.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive agenerally similar result is ob tained but in a slightly differentmanner. Here the closure sheet or cover sheet for the pouring opening ordischarge aperture comprises a portion ofthe inclined panel 40 of thecontainer, the closure sheet or tab being indicated at 4I. Instead ofbeing completely severed from panel 40, save of course along its upperedge, about which it is hinged, it may be only partially severed as forinstance by means of perforations, lines of such perforationsbeing'indicated at 42 and 43. Lines of complete severance are indicatedat 44 and 45. The incision 45 is curved and that portion of tab 4iadjacent this incision comprises a finger piece for the conclosedposition solely by reason of its continued attachment to the remainderof panel 40. The attached sheet 41 is notched or apertured at 50 and theaperture 50 comprises the pouring or discharge opening for the containerwhen tab 4| is lifted as shown in Figure 12. 'I'he sheets 41 are formedin the manner shown largely in order that there shall be no wastage whena series of these sheets are cut from a single strip, as indicated inFigure 9, that portion which is removed from one sheet to form thepouring notch 50 comprising the downward or terminal extension of thenext adjacent sheet. These attachment sheets may, however, be otherwiseformed. In this way, as in the case of the form of the invention firstdescribed, the closure cover 4l overlaps the margins of the pouringopening 50 to a substantial extent so that, so long as the covering tab4I is lowered, the pouring lip or margin of sheet 41 cannot becontaminated. 'I'his is highly advantageous in cases where it is desiredto remove the contents of the container in part only and to store theremainder for future use.

In this form of the invention, as well as in the first form of theinvention, the container is coated interiorly as well as exteriorlywith. the,

leakproong composition and by this composition the edges of thedischarge aperture 50 of sheet 41 are sealed to the inner side of thecovering tab 4|, likewise the composition penetrating the perforations42 and 43 and incisions 44 and 45 so that no leakage of liquid canoccur.

It will be perceived that in each form of the invention the containermay be said to embody two plies or thicknesses of paper in the areaadjacent the discharge aperture. The discharge aperture is actuallyformed in the inner ply of the two-ply container wall and the coversheet or tab as the case may be is in each instance of such size as tosubstantially overlap the margins of the discharge opening thusconcealing the edges of the discharge opening and preventingcontamination thereof at all times save when the cover sheet or tab islifted and maintained in lifted position, during which timecontamination is unlikely to Occur.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new anddesiredto be secured by Letters Patent is: y

1. A container for use in the storage, transportation and dispensing ofliquids such' as milk, said container being fabricated of a plurality offiat angularly disposed marginally interconnected paper panels and beingstii and self-supporting, one'wall thereof being cut or scored toprovide a displaceable tab connected to the wall by an uncut portionwhich constitutes a hinge about which the tab may be swung to uncover apouring opening, a paper closure sheet firmly attached to the outersurface of the'container wall adjacent the hinge and also firmlyattached to the outer surface of the tab, that portion of the closuresheet which overlies and is secured 'to the tab having marginal portionswhich project therefrom to overlap those areas of the container wallwhich border the pouring opening and such overlapping marginal portionsbeing lightly and separably secured to the outer wall surface of thecontainer by two bands of adhesive extending normally to the hinge anddisposed on opposite sides of the tab and by a relatively small area ofadhesive on. the side of the pouring opening remote from the hinge, sothat the tab is normally maintained in closed position thereby and thetab and pouring opening shielded from contact with contaminatingsubstances, this overlapping porimy tion of the closure sheet beingreadily detachable from the container wall without injury to itself orthe container wall, for the purpose of displacing the tab and uncoveringthe discharge opening.

2. A container for use in the storage, transportation and dispensing ofliquids such as milk, said container being fabricated of a plurality offlat angularly disposed marginally interconnected paper panels and beingstiff and self-supporting, one panel at the upper end of the containerbeing inclined to the vertical when the container is upright and thewall panel immediately below and adjoining the same being verticallydisposed, the said inclined panel being cut or scored to provide adisplaceable tab connected to this panel by an uncut portion whichconstitutes a horizontally extending hinge above the tab about which thetab may be swung to uncover a pouring opening, a paper closure sheetfirmly attached to the inclined panel above the hinge and also firmlyattached to the outer surface of the tab, that portion of the closuresheet which overlies and is secured to the tab having marginal portionswhich project therefrom to overlap those areas of the inclined panelwhich border the pouring opening and extending downwardly over the upperportion of said vertical panel and such overlapping marginal portionsbeing lightly and separably secured to both inclined and vertical panelsby an adhesive so that the tab is normally maintained in closed positionthereby and the tab and pouring opening shielded from contact withcontaminating substances, this overlapping portion of the closure sheetbeing readily detachable from the container wall without injury toitself or such wall, for the purpose of displacing the tab anduncovering the discharge opening.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which the closure sheet issubstantially rectangular and the loweer margin'is adhesively secured tothe vertical panel at a central point, leaving the corners thereof freeto be grasped for the purpose of lifting the closure sheet and tab.

4. A container for use in thel storage, transportation and dispensing ofliquids such as milk, said container being fabricated of a plurality offlat angularly disposed marginally interconnected paper panels and beingstiff and self-supporting, one wall thereof being cut or scored toprovide a displaceable tab permanently connected to the wall along oneedge by an uncut portion which constitutes a hinge about which the tabmay be swung to uncover a pouring opening, another edge of the tabhaving means associated therewith which normally tends to maintain thetab in container sealing position and to resist outward displacementthereof, a sheet-like member firmly attached to the outer surface of thecontainer wall adjacent the hinge and also firmly attached to the outersurface of the tab, that portion of said member which overlies and issecured to the tab having projecting margins which overlap and shieldagainst contamination those areas of the container wall which border thepouring opening, such projecting margins being lightly and separablysecured to the outer wall surface of the container by an adhesive, so asto be readily detachable therefrom without injury to itself orthecontainer wall and, .after such detachment, movable outwardly withrespect to said wall for the purpose of overcoming the resistance of theaforementioned means associated with said tab, to eect displacement ofthe tab and uncovering of the discharge opening.

5. A container for use in the storage, transportation and dispensing ofliquids such as milk, said container being fabricated of a plurality offlat angularly disposed marginally interconnected paper panels and beingstiff and self-supporting,

one wall thereof being cut or scored to provide a displaceable tabpermanently connected to the wall along one edge by an uncut portionwhich constitutes a hinge about which the tab may be swung to uncover apouring opening, another edge of the tab being bevelled or undercut sothat portion thereof underlies the adjacent edge of the pouring openingand causes the tab to resist outward displacement thereof, a sheet-likemember firmly attached to the outer surface of the container walladjacent the hinge and also firmly attached to the outer surface of thetab, that portion of said member which overlies and is secured to thetab having projecting margins which overlap and shield againstcontamination those areas of the container wall which border the pouringopening, such projecting margins being lightly and separably secured tothe outer wall surface of the container by an adhesive, so as to bereadily detachable therefrom without injury to itself or the containerwall and, after such detachment, movable outwardly with respect to saidwall to effect displacement of the tab and uncovering of the dischargeopening.

6. A container for use vin the storage, transportation and dispensing ofliquids such as milk, said container being fabricated of a plurality offlat angularly disposed marginally interconnected paper panels and beingstii and self-supporting, one wall thereof being cut or scored toprovide a displaceable tab permanently connected to the wall along oneedge by an uncut portion which constitutes a hinge about which the tabmay be swung to uncover a pouring opening, the said cut being sealedwith a leak-proofing substance, such as paraffin, which prevents thepassage of liquid and tends to maintain the tab in container closingposition, a sheet-like member firmly attached to the container walladjacent the hinge and also firmly attached to the outer surface of thetab, that portion of said member which overlies and is secured to thetab having projecting margins which overlap and shield againstcontamination those areas of the container wall which border the pouringopening, such projecting margins being lightly and separably secured tothe outer wall surface of the container by an adhesive, so as to bereadily detachable therefrom without injury to itself or the containerwall and thereafter movable outwardly with respect to said wall toeffect breakage of the seal around the tab and uncovering of the pouringopeningA 7. A container for use in the storage, transportation anddispensing of liquids such as milk,

said container being fabricated of a plurality of fiat angularlydisposed marginally interconnected paper panels and being stiff andself-supporting, at least one wall of the container comprising twosuperposed layers or plies of paper, the inner ply of said wall beingcut or scored to provide a displaceabletab permanently connected to theremainder of said ply by an uncut portion which constitutes a hingeabout which the tab may be swung to uncover a pouring opening, anotheredge of the tab having means associated therewith which normally tendsto maintain the tab in container sealing position and to resist outwarddisplacement thereof, the outer ply having a portion attached to the inner ply adjacent the hinge and a portion rmly attached to the outersurface of the tab, said last mentioned portion of the the inner plyand, after such detachment, movable outwardly with respect to said innerply for the purpose of overcoming the aforesaid means associated withsaid tab, to effect displacement of the tab and'uncovering ofr thedischarge open- 5 ing.

. RACY D. BENNETT.

